Wire-stretcher



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. BALL.

- WIRE 'STRETGHER.

Patented Jan. 6 1891.

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(No Model.) 2. SheetsSheet 2.

D. BALL.

WIRE STRETGHER. No. 444,036. Patented Jan. 6, 1891.

PATENT FFICEQ DEVILLO BALL, OF LAONA, NE\V YORK.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444;,936, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed August 23, 1890. Serial No. 362,805. (No model To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DEVILLO BALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Laona, in the countyof Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful WVire- Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fences, and more particularly to that class thereof known as wire-stretchers, and the object of the same is to provide a device of this character which shall possess certain improved characteristics of construction and operation, all as hereinafter more fully described, and as illustrated in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of this improved device showing the manner of its application to a post designated by dotted lines. Fig. 2is a side elevation of the same, showing the Wire about to be stretched. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the wire partly stretched, showing the use of the fastening-pin. Fig. at is a side elevation showing the device used to stretch the Wire when the device is open to its fullest capacity. Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective detail showing the manner in which the wire is connected to the moving bar.

Referring to the said drawings, the letterS designates the stationary member of this device, which has a straight body turned slightly down at its rear end, where it is bifurcated. Pivoted in this bifurcation on the pivot-bolt P is the handle H, which extends to the rear and is provided with several bolt-holes h, as shown. Mounted on a bolt through one of these holes is a pair of links L, whose front ends are pivotally connected to the moving bar M of the device. This bar slides upon the stationary bar or memberS through two loops or eyes I rising therefrom near its front end, and between these loops and just in rear of the rearmost loop semicircular notches N are cut in the stationary bar. A number of similar semicircular notches are cut in the lower face of the moving bar M, and when the latter is moved some one of this series of notches will register alternately with one or the other of the two notches in the stationary bar. A fastening-pin F is provided, as shown in Fig. 3, and by the use of this pin the two bars may be locked together at almost any desired point. After the wire has been partly stretched it can be held in this manner; or the handle can be borne downwardly to the limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 4:, whereby the wire is stretched to the fullest capacity of the device, and the latter will remain in this position. The bolt-holes h are obviously for use to give greater or less power, with less or greater throw, respectively, to the handlelever.

Beneath the stationary arm S is secured a 'curved arm 0, standing in a horizontal plane and extending to one side of the mechanism above described, and this arm is preferably provided with teeth T in its front face. Mounted on a vertical pivot V near the front end of the device is a clamping-lever K, one of Whose arms is curved, as shown in Fig. 1, oppositely to the curvature of the arm 0, and is preferably brought to a point '6 for penetrating the post. The use of these arms, as well shown in Fig. 1, is for holding the stretcher in proper position upon a post while the wire is being tightened, and the front end of the clamping-lever K is useful asahandle, by means of which it may be operated.

Although-any suitable means may be employed for connecting the wire to the front end of the moving bar M, I prefer to provide the same with a vertical opening 0 in its side, as shown in Fig. 5. This openingO is slightly larger than the size of an ordinary fence-wire, whereby the latter may be passed into the same from the side of the bar, and the inner end of the opening is slightly enlarged or rounded on its front side, as at E. In use the wire is drawn as tightly as possible, a sharp bend made therein, and this bend passed through the opening 0 into the enlargement E thereof. As the corners of the enlargement are sharp, the wire will bind therein as soon as the moving bar is moved. After the tightened wire has been secured to the post by 1. In a wire-stretcher, the combination, With the stationary bar S, having a turned-down bif urcated rear end, the loops I, rising from said bar near the front end, and the handle H, mounted on a pivot l in said bifurcated end and l'iaving a number of bolt-holes h through its body, of the moving bar M, sliding upon said stationary bar and through said loops, links L, pivotally connected attheir front ends to said moving bar and at their rear ends to one of said bolt-holes, and means, substantially as described, for locking the wire to the moving bar, the two bars to each other, and the stationary bar to a post, as set forth.

2. In a wire-stretcher,the eombination,with the stationary bar S, having two semicircular notches N in its upper face, the loops I, rising from said bar forward of each notch, the moving bar M, sliding upon said stationary bar through said loops and having a number of registering notches in its lower face closer together than the distance between the notches in the stationary bar, and a lever for operating said moving bar, of a fastening-pin I fitting said registering notches, and means, substantially as described, for looking the wire to the moving bar and the stationary bar to the post, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DEV ILLO BALL. Vitnesses:

JNo. G. RECORD, WALTER RECORD. 

